Canterbury Park Building $2.5 Million Event, Expo Center

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – Canterbury Park officials announced Tuesday plans to build a $2.5 million event and expo center that will make their available event space the fourth largest in the Twin Cities.

The plans unveiled Tuesday were for a 30,000 square foot structure that would give Canterbury Park more than 100,000 square feet in event space. It will allow for stand-alone events during the summer racing season and to host events throughout the year when space isn’t available otherwise. It will be used year-round.

The horse-racing season at Canterbury Park starts in mid-May and lasts through mid-September. During last year’s 69-day racing season, the facility had an average daily attendance of more than 6,600.

Officials said the new facility will feature 24,000 square feet of open event space and another 6,000 square feet including an entry area, offices, restrooms and storage. Construction is slated to begin in May and be done by September.